Ensembles

Community Music School Ensembles

Teen Band

For ages 13-17. Teen musicians learn to play in an ensemble, developing musicianship, flexibility and musical creativity. The class meets Fridays from 5-6 on the westside with artistic director Shelley Phillips to arrange music from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Norway, Sweden and Bulgaria, in addition to modern and more quirky pieces. Instruments include fiddle, viola, flute, tin whistle, cello, upright bass, guitar, Celtic harp, accordion and percussion. Students must have at least two years experience on their instrument, experience in the genre of traditional folk music, and must be able to read sheet music and chord symbols. Teen Band performs at various events as a community service.

Shape Note Society

Sing from the Sacred Harp, an American songbook with its roots in the last century and earlier. The note heads are different shapes, aiding sight-singing in four-part harmony. The group is also very social and is open to anyone. Shape Note meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 7:30-9 PM. Call 426-9155 or e-mail shelley@communitymusicschool.org and get on the e-mail list for locations. No charge. Beginners welcome.

Other Group Classes and Activities

Be Natural Youth Bands

Be Natural Music has several Rock Bands & Jazz Band classes for kids who already play an instrument. Kids & Teens ages 9 - 16We also have a beginning Adult Rock Band class for allthose adult musicians who've never played in a band before!

The Gold Standard Chorus

The only barbershop chorus in the Santa Cruz area, the Gold Standard Chorus is an informal singing organization with two goals: to share the fun of four-part harmony in Santa Cruz and to support choral music programs in the local schools. It is also one of the very few mixed-gender groups worldwide in a style dominated by all-male and all-female groups. We meet every Wednesday at the Santa Cruz High School choir room, 7:00pm to 9:25pm, and give two major concerts and many informal performances each year. Come sing with us!

Call 408/221-1788 or visit www.scbarbershop.org for more info.

Make Your Own Bamboo Flute

Shelley Phillips is offering workshops in bamboo flute-making, in the tradition of Margaret James who developed a method of making flutes by hand during the arts & crafts movement in England in the 1930's. We made these bamboo 'pipes' last summer at Teen Camp with great success. Call the School for the next scheduled workshop: (831) 426-9155, or email shelley@communitymusicschool.org.

The Cabrillo Strings/Suzuki Music Program

A complete musical education for children through private lessons and group ensemble instruction. The program includes weekly lessons and participation in the Friday Ensembles held on the Cabrillo College campus. Instruction is offered on violin, viola, cello and string bass for students ages 5-18. For more information, or to make a donation, please call 479-6101, or go to our website

St. Andrew Academy Celtic Music Night with David Brewer

David Brewer's free Celtic music/coaching/jam is being held every Tuesday night from 7-8:30pm at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church at 9850 Monro Avenue in Aptos. email pipeyspice@hotmail.com

Celtic Slow Sessions

The group meets at the Buttery on both the 1st and 3rd Sundays from 2-4pm. Contact Tane Tachyon, tachyon@tachyonlabs.com

Sweet Players Mountain Dulcimer Group

This informal group of dulcimer enthusiasts meets second Saturdays 11-1 in the Santa Cruz area. Email Laura Devine at dulcimergirlrocks at gmail.com With CMS they also produce a big fun weekend of mountain dulcimer workshops and concerts with nationally known artists/instructors the last weekend of July. Loaner instruments are available at all events, so give it a try! See: Redwood Dulcimer Day

The Cabrillo Youth Chorus was founded in 1998. It has performed with the Cantiamo! Cabrillo, Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus, Cabrillo Opera, Santa Cruz Youth Symphony and Cabrillo Music Festival, as well as participating in choral festivals and producing their own concerts. The Youth Chorus provides four levels of instruction for singers ages 8-18: beginning level singers (Dolce) and beginning-intermediate singers (Vivace) rehearse every Tuesday 4-5:30pm, and intermediate singers (Allegria) and advanced level singers (Con Brio) rehearse every Wednesday 4-5:30pm. There is also a boys chorus (formed in spring of 2005) which rehearses on Tuesdays from 5-6pm. The program is directed by Cheryl Anderson, director of choral activities at Cabrillo College. Tuition $150, polo shirt $16 if you need a new one. Tuition assistance is available. For more information call 479-5021 or visit www.cabrilloyouthchorus.org.

Rhythm Power Class on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 pm. Djembe, Conga, Doumbek, Frame Drums and/or hand percussion instruments: explore different instruments or choose one or two to focus on. $75 for each four-week session. Play percussion for recreation, stress release and self-empowerment. For more information about Rhythm Power: www.handsondrum.com/personalgrowth

Conga Class on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 pm. Afro-Caribbean rhythms. $80 for each four-week session. Play for recreation or to enhance your performance skills.

Private lessons: one-on-one, and small groups of friends and family: A few times available. Monday through Saturday from noon to 7 pm. Recreational players & musicians at all levels of experience.

Recorder Society/Early Music Collegium

The Recorder Society/Early Music Collegium encourages recorder and other early music instrument playing as a shared social experience by providing meetings directed by a variety of professional musicians. People with varying ability levels can play and study the recorder in smaller consorts as well as in the larger group. Come and enjoy an instrument which has been in use for over a thousand years!

We encourage everyone interested in early music and the musical pleasures of ensemble playing to join. Meetings are Saturday mornings from 11-noon on the westside. Call 426-9155; or e-mail shelley@got.net.

Music Together is a popular and highly acclaimed Early Childhood Music Enrichment Program for infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and the adults who love them. Mornings and afternoons, Monday thru Saturday. Locations in Santa Cruz, Capitola and Felton. Call 462-5195 or visit musicalme.com

This community band plays concert band standards, marches and show tunes. Open to anyone that plays a band instrument and is proficient at reading music. Mondays 7:30-9:30PM in the Santa Cruz High Choir Room on the corner of Walnut and California. Call John Thomas at 425-0110 or visit Thomas Musical Instruments Front St in downtown Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz Follies

For adults. Auditions March 20 for performance in Sept. Singers and dancers over 50 years old. Rehearsals 2 times/week over the summer at the SCO, 222 Market St. in Santa Cruz. $15 membership fee. Other programs as well. Call Melita at 684-1312, or the SCO at 423-6640. mbisrael@msn.com

Scottish Country Dancing

Scottish Country Dancing class in Santa Cruz at the First Congregational Church, 900 High St. on Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm. The contact is Dotty Lieber: 831-423-6165.

Sylvan Music

Sylvan offers workshops, concerts and private lessons on various fretted string instruments. Anyone who wishes to receive more information is welcome to stop by the store at 1521 Mission St. in Santa Cruz or call 427-1917.

Watsonville Music Program Youth Chorus

The Watsonville Music Program Youth Chorus is an exciting group that develops 3rd to 12th graders into skilled, confident singers prepared for public performing. Supported by the Watsonville Journey to Hope Foundation and hosted by Watsonville First United Methodist Church. The chorus meets 45 weeks per year. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings - 3rd - 5th graders, 3:30 - 4:30 & 6th - 12th graders, 4:45 - 6:00. There is flexibility about placement. A very wide variety of music is learned and performed. Rehearsals include instruction in music fundamentals and vocal techniques and always have a healthy dose of fun thrown in! Singers gain music training as well as connections to students coming from other schools and cultures. Performance experiences are carefully chosen to ensure that each student feels comfortable and gains in poise and confidence. Director Holly Ota has been educating Santa Cruz County youth since 1991. She holds a master's degree from Northwestern University School of Music in Illinois. Please call 831-722-9369 for more information.

Individuals and groups interested in affiliating with Community Music School, please contact us at shelley@communitymusicschool.org.